The Darnold-less, popgun Jets offense had tied the Patriots late in the third quarter on a scoring drive complete with a first-down scramble by 39-year-old Josh McCown that ended with a dramatic, Elway-style helicopter tackle.
Might a feel-good upset — before a MetLife Stadium crowd loaded with New England fans — be in the offing?
Um, no.
Four Patriots plays — three covering more than 20 yards — later, it was 20-13, and the visitors were on their way to a 27-13 victory on Sunday, the Jets’ fifth loss in a row.
“That’s really bad,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said of the two-minute, eight-second New England drive.